I also would take as many 1sts and 2nds in this years draft. Even retaining $$$ on contracts to get the better picks I would do. So you can retain up to 50% I believe. Saad for $3 mil to a Cup Contender is worth a 1st+, even De Haan & Maatta at $2.25 and $2.0 is a great deal in a flat cap world. There seems to be a few teams looking for 2C and also D depth that’s cheap.

They were discussing on Calgary page how they are looking to move Hanifin for forward help. Just spitballin maybe a Hanifin + 1st + Dube for RFA Strome, $3 mil retained Saad, $2 mil retained Maatta, RFA Caggiula, and either Sikura/Prospect/up to a 3rd pick.

I know we talk Keith and his value as a veteran mentor to the younger guys, but there’s a few teams looking for that top pairing or strong 2nd pair Dman. For example, slotting him next to Carlson on the top pairing in Washington. Or playing the top pairing with Ekblad with coach Q. I still think you could get a 1st (and maybe a prospect also). He’s already 37 and not sure if he wants to play 3 more years on a team that will be just trying to make the playoffs each year.
- DrewDawg

I do agree that trying to acquire additional picks early in this draft would be advisable as long as the price is right. Ideally 1st rounders but 2nd rounders, too.

Not sure if retaining salary is worth it given the team has a tight cap situation especially if transactions don't happen to move money out.

But you never know if Bowman decides to retain salary if it means getting the return he wants by shipping out a veteran contract or two.

Tommy deVito, a founding member of The Four Seasons, dead of complications of COVID-19.

I was a big fan. Still am.

Alef ha-shalom.

Personally i think if you're trading for draft picks especially in the teens you are just kicking the can down the road. This player will probably take a few years develop and so on. Hawks need to aim higher now and go after young promising players on cash strapped teams.
- BetweenTheDots

That is a good perspective of trading up for just a spot or so. I personally wouldn't do that but would be in favor of acquiring another 1st rounder which would realistically be in the teens or 20s.

If you are trading the 17th pick for another 1st rounder, it should be that pick + assets to get into the top 10.

That is a good perspective of trading up for just a spot or so. I personally wouldn't do that but would be in favor of acquiring another 1st rounder which would realistically be in the teens or 20s.

If you are trading the 17th pick for another 1st rounder, it should be that pick + assets to get into the top 10.
- Theo Fox

I also believe you have gm's who are very aware of the cap and will be difficult to trade with. Personally i wait for the trade dead line during the season typically you have a gm who will be willing to part with more assets than any other time in the year.

Saad outscored him last year missing time with a bad ankle, does so much more and if he outscores him again will have outscored him 2 out of 4 years. No GM would trade Saad for Dinky.
- rpeters01

I like both players, Dinky is 22 years old no way i give up on a 22 year old who scored 40 goals in a season. Those players don't grow on trees and the kid hasn't hit his prime yet. I'll take my chances he'll get his lightning quick shot back.

ADB is a one dimensional goal scorer. He isn't going to skate the puck or dig it out in his goal scoring. He struggles to clear his own end. In sports if you get significant playing time you get stats. There's a name for those kind of players, they are called "good enough to lose." If Strome is our 2C I would put him in that category as well.
But actually I'm not ready to give up on Strome. Force a low contract down his throat and play him on a lower line and see what his game does?
- rpeters01

I get what you're saying and think that would apply if DeBrincat was our best player or top scorer.

He's not though, and Dach likely makes him our second best player under 25 this next season. I didn't count Kubalik since I believe he turns 25 this next season.

Dinky got better as the playoffs went along too. Hopefully Strome is signed to a number under $3M (hopefully $2-$2.5) and comes back a bit stronger since I don't see him getting much faster.

Personally i think if you're trading for draft picks especially in the teens you are just kicking the can down the road. This player will probably take a few years develop and so on. Hawks need to aim higher now and go after young promising players on cash strapped teams.
- BetweenTheDots

Strome, Perlini, Duclair, Nylander, Dano - they’ve gone that route - mixed results, to be kind.

Reclamation projects, to be sure - but given cap issues for many teams, and legacy contracts on Chicago - what kind of deal would bring back other than reclamation projects?

European FAs seems to be the way to go outside of the draft.

Gale Sayers, apparently dead at 77.

With Walter Peyton (who certainly died way too young), the best running backs in Bears’ history.

Without the injuries....

Alef ha-shalom.

Gale Sayers, apparently dead at 77.

With Walter Peyton (who certainly died way too young), the best running backs in Bears’ history.

Without the injuries....

Alef ha-shalom.
- StLBravesFan

Payton

Gale Sayers, apparently dead at 77.

With Walter Peyton (who certainly died way too young), the best running backs in Bears’ history.

Without the injuries....

Alef ha-shalom.
- StLBravesFan

I always considered Sayers the best natural runner, but Payton the best football player.
It was his block of Scott Studwell of the Vikes on thursday night football that allowed Jim McMahon to throw for the TD that in my opinion saved McMahon's ass and gave the confidence to the rest of that team to blow everyone else away except Miami that year. IMO the single most important play in Chicago sports that I can remember.
God bless both of them.

I like both players, Dinky is 22 years old no way i give up on a 22 year old who scored 40 goals in a season. Those players don't grow on trees and the kid hasn't hit his prime yet. I'll take my chances he'll get his lightning quick shot back.
- BetweenTheDots

I liken Dinky to an average pitcher who is traded to the other league. He will dominate first time through, then tendency's catch up and the pitcher is back to average. The league has caught up to Dinky and he will be nothing more than average at best the balance of his career. IMHO.

Gale Sayers, apparently dead at 77.

With Walter Peyton (who certainly died way too young), the best running backs in Bears’ history.

Without the injuries....

Alef ha-shalom.
- StLBravesFan

I was fortunate enough to meet Mr Sayers at one of the old Tuesday media lunches. I had my Father in Law in tow. 40 took the time to chat it up with my FIL who at 70+ at the time was fan boy'ng out, and even gave him a signed panel ball. 100% total class!

Payton
- powerenforcer

Peightonne....

I was fortunate enough to meet Mr Sayers at one of the old Tuesday media lunches. I had my Father in Law in tow. 40 took the time to chat it up with my FIL who at 70+ at the time was fan boy'ng out, and even gave him a signed panel ball. 100% total class!
- riozzo

I never met him - but I saw him play several times at Cubs Park - as elusive as any runner ever.

I never met him - but I saw him play several times at Cubs Park - as elusive as any runner ever.
- StLBravesFan

Wrigley Field.......hasn't been Cubs Park since 1926

Wrigley Field.......hasn't been Cubs Park since 1926
- TheTrob

It will always be Cubs Park to me.

Strome, Perlini, Duclair, Nylander, Dano - they’ve gone that route - mixed results, to be kind.

Reclamation projects, to be sure - but given cap issues for many teams, and legacy contracts on Chicago - what kind of deal would bring back other than reclamation projects?

European FAs seems to be the way to go outside of the draft.
- StLBravesFan

Reclamation projects and young blue chip players are 2 different things

Gale Sayers, apparently dead at 77.

With Walter Peyton (who certainly died way too young), the best running backs in Bears’ history.

Without the injuries....

Alef ha-shalom.
- StLBravesFan

From today’s NYT article:

His son Guy Bullard said the cause of death was complications of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

In March 2017, his family revealed that Sayers had dementia after he had publicly displayed symptoms of it for four years. He joins a growing list of football players who developed dementia and died of brain damage while still young.

Reclamation projects and young blue chip players are 2 different things
- BetweenTheDots

I referred to that in my post.

How are they going to get those “young blue chip players” - what assets can they give up to get them - in a league with a flat cap and so many teams up against it?

Normally, you would trade the veteran piece that a team thinks it needs to go for a Cup - but who would that be?

I don’t think they can pick up those “young blue chip players” in this market with their assets.

ADB is a one dimensional goal scorer. He isn't going to skate the puck or dig it out in his goal scoring. He struggles to clear his own end. In sports if you get significant playing time you get stats. There's a name for those kind of players, they are called "good enough to lose." If Strome is our 2C I would put him in that category as well.
But actually I'm not ready to give up on Strome. Force a low contract down his throat and play him on a lower line and see what his game does?
- rpeters01

He will be 23 in December and improved almost every other facet of his game this year. Is he good enough right now? No, but he certainly is on his way there.

Strome is not our 2C. He is 3C right now. As anti-Strome as I have been, I wouldn't be upset if he turned it around and became a solid player for the Hawks. He produces points and I think he has a very high IQ (which I believe is the number 1 attribute). My problem with Strome is that he hasn't shown the willingness, or ability to fight for the puck (where ADB certainly has).

I referred to that in my post.

How are they going to get those “young blue chip players” - what assets can they give up to get them - in a league with a flat cap and so many teams up against it?

Normally, you would trade the veteran piece that a team thinks it needs to go for a Cup - but who would that be?

I don’t think they can pick up those “young blue chip players” in this market with their assets.
- StLBravesFan

You may be right, to me if I'm Bowman i hold out for these players if the ask is someone like Murphy or Saad if in fact they are considered to be traded

He will be 23 in December and improved almost every other facet of his game this year. Is he good enough right now? No, but he certainly is on his way there.

Strome is not our 2C. He is 3C right now. As anti-Strome as I have been, I wouldn't be upset if he turned it around and became a solid player for the Hawks. He produces points and I think he has a very high IQ (which I believe is the number 1 attribute). My problem with Strome is that he hasn't shown the willingness, or ability to fight for the puck (where ADB certainly has).
- Chunk

As the roster stands now I would go:

ADB - Toews -Kubalik
Saad-Strome-Kane
Nylander-Dach-Suter
Highmore-Kampf-Shaw/Carpenter

So Strome is your #2 center, but Dach at #3 will get more minutes, as he would also play PP and PK. Why put Strome in a position as a 3C where he is more apt to struggle. Kane has had chemistry with both Strome, and obviously with Saad. Strome is a stronger offensive centerman than Kane has had except when he plays with Toews.

In this setup you are spreading out your "weakest" defensive forwards over all 3 lines (ADB, Strome, and Nylander). You can inset any one from the 4th line to replace your weak forwards if you are protecting a lead late in the third period.

As the roster stands now I would go:

ADB - Toews -Kubalik
Saad-Strome-Kane
Nylander-Dach-Suter
Highmore-Kampf-Shaw/Carpenter

So Strome is your #2 center, but Dach at #3 will get more minutes, as he would also play PP and PK. Why put Strome in a position as a 3C where he is more apt to struggle. Kane has had chemistry with both Strome, and obviously with Saad. Strome is a stronger offensive centerman than Kane has had except when he plays with Toews.

In this setup you are spreading out your "weakest" defensive forwards over all 3 lines (ADB, Strome, and Nylander). You can inset any one from the 4th line to replace your weak forwards if you are protecting a lead late in the third period.
- LAHawk

Those lines make the most sense if nothing really happens via trades and free agency. So most likely not making the playoffs and be bottom of barrel team in the nhl unless key players make hugh strides and take their game to next level or levels. Nylander dach dcat strome and boqvist.

As the roster stands now I would go:

ADB - Toews -Kubalik
Saad-Strome-Kane
Nylander-Dach-Suter
Highmore-Kampf-Shaw/Carpenter

So Strome is your #2 center, but Dach at #3 will get more minutes, as he would also play PP and PK. Why put Strome in a position as a 3C where he is more apt to struggle. Kane has had chemistry with both Strome, and obviously with Saad. Strome is a stronger offensive centerman than Kane has had except when he plays with Toews.

In this setup you are spreading out your "weakest" defensive forwards over all 3 lines (ADB, Strome, and Nylander). You can inset any one from the 4th line to replace your weak forwards if you are protecting a lead late in the third period.
- LAHawk

OK. I know it's arbitrary, but I consider 1st/2nd/3rd line by the minutes played. I get what you are saying and "as is" that's not a bad way to go about it. I think there will be a number of moves by Stan, so we'll wee how it all shakes out.

New blog coming out in a little bit.

Quick announcement that may ruffles some feathers: the Hogs have signed Cody Franson to an AHL deal.